OT: Book snorkel *now* for La Jolla

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Hey kids, sorry for making a new thread, but I just got off the phone with San Diego Scuba & Swim (you're gonna love their websites: http://www.snorkelsandiegoscuba.com and http://scubadivergirls.com)...

Anyway, ran my "white shark migration area" issues past them and have been told they are NOT seeing them in general and not to worry. I went ahead & booked a couple of dives for August 20 (super ass early in the morning, so it's gonna stink for Friday night, but that's when you see the best wildlife, for the most part. I can always come back to the hotel & take a nap.)

Spoke to the very awesome booking agent, Rich, who told me they're filling up snorkel trips FAST and that I should have my buddies book now if they're interested. Story is, they take you on a guided tour - always a good idea, not only so you won't get into currents, etc. but so your guides can point out interesting underwater features - and they'll rent you gear, so you don't have to carry smelly dripping stuff back onto the plane.

Sounds like you can probably rent gear from them and then snorkel on your own schedule, but be aware you likely will need to rent gear from someone and it'd be a good idea to reserve now: the water out there will be cold. I mean really cold, like high 60s, which sounds OK until you realize water saps your warmth much more so than air. You're going to need a wetsuit. A 3 to 5 mil, not a rash guard or a nylon t-shirt, plus hood and gloves. Total price for tour + gear rental is $70 (although you may want to double check on what all that entails - I was mostly calling for scuba info.)

Phone is : (858) 539-0054. I told Rich HE needed to get it in gear and buy tickets for the way awesome drumming performance at La Jolla Fest that week

Will delete this thread after folks see the pertinent info. Or not, if anybody wants to talk about it...just trying to not have like 50 La Jolla threads going for people to keep up with.

Can't wait to see all of you who are able to make it out. xoxo Dive

(Do we have any other certified divers on here? If so, price point is $70 per, including tanks and weights, and they're doing both the kelp bed and the shallow portion of the cove where the leopard sharks & guitarfish are hanging out. YEEEEEEAHHHHH!!! Good thing I booked Southwest co I can haul my monstrous underwater camera on board without paying out the yin yang on baggage check fees.)

[samburusunset]

Oooooh, who's up for a snorkel at The Cove?? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller??





Thanks for the head's up Dive

[Divemistress of the Dark]

It's gonna be way, way cool, it looks like. All I had to hear was "leopard sharks and guitarfish" and I was pressing the SUBMIT button, so to speak.

I'm still a little wary of the big toothy sharks (which pains me to admit, since I've had to talk down so many people convinced they'd jump in on top of a great white in some warm-water spot like Grand Bahama), but Rich said he's been diving every day in the Cove for years and has yet to see one. I'm not sure it'd 100% stop me if he had been seeing them semi-regularly, but it is the kind of information you do like to know in advance.

Take a gander at this video. Giant striped sea bass, kelp beds....Usually I don't like cold-water diving, but I'm willing to make an exception. This is a scuba vid, but I noticed some snorkel ones linked too, and I'm sure you'd see sea lions in-water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHMdTJxG ... re=related

[BongoBoy]

Man !

These adventurous Nutter skuba girls ! swimmin with sharks ! (far away I hope).

Sounds like a wild time.

what great pictures you will get !

Have a Jolla time ! heh,he...ahh nutz.



BongoAfraidOfSharksAndBears...natural enemies of the bongodrum.

[Lynne]

[quote="samburusunset"]Oooooh, who's up for a snorkel at The Cove?? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller??




Thanks for the head's up Dive [/quote]

I'm in for any aquatic escapades; sadly, I'm not taking my scuba certification until September, so it's snorkeling for me.

My flight doesn't get into SAN until late morning on Friday 21st, so I'm in if there's a plan for Saturday morning. Otherwise, I'm going to see if I can talk Empty into doing a long training swim in the Cove that morning.

[njperry]

I will be passing on this. Not my thing, I am afraid, but want to hear about it at dinner on Thursday if possible.

Sounds like fun.

[Chatchka]

Not me either. But thanks for the info!

[policerule]

I'd love to Dive, and maybe I'll do it, but it would be a last minute decision if there is room at that time. I'm not into the whole wetsuit thing, so kayaking is my priority this trip;)

Thanks for the info!

Lynne, I won't swim in the cove, but I'm going to be swimming laps at the pool lmk if you want to get a workout in.

[nancyrose]

Yeah, I think I'm gonna pass up snorkeling too, unless I change my mind at the last minute. Really want to do the kayacking.

But thanks, Dive, for making the call and getting the info.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

No worries. And you're welcome.

I actually called to change my ressie to Sunday morning so I won't have to be up at 5:30 AM the Saturday after the SC performance. So I won't be able to tell you how it is Saturday while we're kayaking....But I will be bringing along my waterproof camera setup, which should be fun.

Bets, I'll post this in the other thread, but do let us know how to get some $ to you for this. Oh, and I'll shave my legs first, this time.

(I about scratched her to death on our canoe trip near Red Rocks....it was still a blast, tho.)

[TOWOS]

Hubs **might** be interested - he used to be an avid kayaker...Not me, of course-